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Mystery letters have unknown source in Jackson murder

Michaeal Bargo looks to his defense attorney Charles Holloman before closing arguments in the penalty phase of his first degree murder trial Tuesday August 27, 2013. Bargo was convicted of first degree murder last week for his part in the heinous murder of Seath Jackson in 2011. The state is seeking the death penalty.

Published: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 1:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 1:31 p.m.

Marion County is not likely to become the setting of the next Dan Brown novel or "National Treasure" movie.

But that doesn't mean intrigue can't be found inside the county's limits.

In fact, a mystery has surfaced on the top floor of the courthouse. And while it's not likely to draw the attention of Hollywood, it has puzzled several employees at the State Attorney's Office for more than two years.

The items in question are letters — six of them — that the prosecutor's office received over a month-and-a-half period in 2011. The letters are all about a brutal murder and seem to be written by someone who had first-hand knowledge of the crime or had at least spoken with someone who did.

"I am in a unique position, in the murder case of Seath Jackson," started the first letter. "Most of what I'm going to tell you is first-hand knowledge."

Authorities don't think there's much mystery left in that case. They say Seath, 15, was lured to a Summerfield residence where he was beaten, shot and then burned beyond recognition in an outdoor fire pit.

Four co-defendants are serving life prison terms. A fifth, Michael Bargo, has been found guilty and could face the death penalty.

The mystery letters are signed only with a number: 4416.

The return address: 4416 No Such Lane, Ocala, Florida 34475.

Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt, who is prosecuting the Bargo case with Robin Arnold, remains unsure what the "4416" signature/house number represents.

"We thought address, birth date. We ran through a lot of different scenarios and we couldn't figure it out," she said.

Law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office took the letters seriously. 4416 advised prosecutors how to play one co-defendant against another, recounted alleged conversations that took place long after arrests had been made, and tried to give context to the group of co-defendants/friends.

"This actually started way over a month before the murder," 4416 wrote in the first letter, referencing a feud.

4416 also writes that killing Seath had been discussed in the presence of James Havens, 39, who was eventually arrested and accused of helping dispose of the victim's remains.

"James (Havens) told them not to think about doing it and actually thought they were not serious," 4416 wrote in July 2011.

Testifying during Bargo's trial, Havens corroborated this story.

4416 also alleges Bargo's father, Michael Bargo Sr., arrived at the Summerfield residence around the time the murder was commissioned.

Both the elder and younger Bargo testified to this fact in August — two years after 4416 first wrote about it in a letter.

Other accusations made by 4416 have been found to be false or unverifiable.

For example, in the first letter, dated July 14, 2011, 4416 alleges an "Easter Bouquet" plot had been hatched by one co-defendant. The title alludes to a rose for each of a dozen people the person wanted dead.

"We never had any indication that that was true," Berndt said.

But she did point to a different co-defendant who at one point, prosecutors believe, did have a hit list.

On July 18, 2011, 4416 alleged Seath's murder had been videotaped. But the state has no evidence the crime was recorded. When asked, co-defendant Kyle Hooper said there was no such recording.

In the letters, 4416 sympathizes with co-defendant Charlie Ely and refers to her as a "minor player."

"I will come forward when necessary if you need me," 4416 wrote in the first letter. "I am a professional as you and in the legal system. If I come forward, this will ruin my marriage and probably my life. I am doing this so we don't have another Casey Anthony verdict."

The mystery writer asked for a personal ad to be placed in the Star-Banner to signify the prosecutors' decision: Either "4416 need you" or "4416, don't need you, you're safe."

On July 20, 2011, Berndt place an ad, paid with her own money.

"4416 NEED YOU!" it said.

4416 acknowledged the ad in a subsequent letter, but he/she never came forward.

Berndt said there is no reason, at this point, for 4416's true identity to be revealed. But she would like to solve the mystery.

<p>Marion County is not likely to become the setting of the next Dan Brown novel or "National Treasure" movie.</p><p>But that doesn't mean intrigue can't be found inside the county's limits.</p><p>In fact, a mystery has surfaced on the top floor of the courthouse. And while it's not likely to draw the attention of Hollywood, it has puzzled several employees at the State Attorney's Office for more than two years.</p><p>The items in question are letters — six of them — that the prosecutor's office received over a month-and-a-half period in 2011. The letters are all about a brutal murder and seem to be written by someone who had first-hand knowledge of the crime or had at least spoken with someone who did.</p><p>"I am in a unique position, in the murder case of Seath Jackson," started the first letter. "Most of what I'm going to tell you is first-hand knowledge."</p><p>Authorities don't think there's much mystery left in that case. They say Seath, 15, was lured to a Summerfield residence where he was beaten, shot and then burned beyond recognition in an outdoor fire pit.</p><p>Four co-defendants are serving life prison terms. A fifth, Michael Bargo, has been found guilty and could face the death penalty.</p><p>The mystery letters are signed only with a number: 4416.</p><p>The return address: 4416 No Such Lane, Ocala, Florida 34475.</p><p>Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt, who is prosecuting the Bargo case with Robin Arnold, remains unsure what the "4416" signature/house number represents.</p><p>"We thought address, birth date. We ran through a lot of different scenarios and we couldn't figure it out," she said.</p><p>Law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office took the letters seriously. 4416 advised prosecutors how to play one co-defendant against another, recounted alleged conversations that took place long after arrests had been made, and tried to give context to the group of co-defendants/friends.</p><p>"This actually started way over a month before the murder," 4416 wrote in the first letter, referencing a feud.</p><p>4416 also writes that killing Seath had been discussed in the presence of James Havens, 39, who was eventually arrested and accused of helping dispose of the victim's remains.</p><p>"James (Havens) told them not to think about doing it and actually thought they were not serious," 4416 wrote in July 2011.</p><p>Testifying during Bargo's trial, Havens corroborated this story.</p><p>4416 also alleges Bargo's father, Michael Bargo Sr., arrived at the Summerfield residence around the time the murder was commissioned.</p><p>Both the elder and younger Bargo testified to this fact in August — two years after 4416 first wrote about it in a letter.</p><p>Other accusations made by 4416 have been found to be false or unverifiable.</p><p>For example, in the first letter, dated July 14, 2011, 4416 alleges an "Easter Bouquet" plot had been hatched by one co-defendant. The title alludes to a rose for each of a dozen people the person wanted dead.</p><p>"We never had any indication that that was true," Berndt said.</p><p>But she did point to a different co-defendant who at one point, prosecutors believe, did have a hit list.</p><p>On July 18, 2011, 4416 alleged Seath's murder had been videotaped. But the state has no evidence the crime was recorded. When asked, co-defendant Kyle Hooper said there was no such recording.</p><p>In the letters, 4416 sympathizes with co-defendant Charlie Ely and refers to her as a "minor player."</p><p>"I will come forward when necessary if you need me," 4416 wrote in the first letter. "I am a professional as you and in the legal system. If I come forward, this will ruin my marriage and probably my life. I am doing this so we don't have another Casey Anthony verdict."</p><p>The mystery writer asked for a personal ad to be placed in the Star-Banner to signify the prosecutors' decision: Either "4416 need you" or "4416, don't need you, you're safe."</p><p>On July 20, 2011, Berndt place an ad, paid with her own money.</p><p>"4416 NEED YOU!" it said.</p><p>4416 acknowledged the ad in a subsequent letter, but he/she never came forward.</p><p>Berndt said there is no reason, at this point, for 4416's true identity to be revealed. But she would like to solve the mystery.</p><p>"I'll always be curious," she said.</p><p><i>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com.</i></p>